The Tasmanian State government has appointed the TECC to undertake a pilot wireless scoping study and trial over the next 18 months, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the technology to develop appropriate business case models for potential telecommunications applications, services and devices.

The results could well influence other potential deployments of  other Wi-Fi locations across the State.

The Sullivans Cove/Salamanca Waterfront precinct in Hobart was selected because it provides access to a wide cross section of the cultural and business community, business. The lifestyle characteristics that exist in the Waterfront are also present across several other locations around the State.

The TECC expects the learnings from the trial will be a valuable resource to assist with the future expected demand for wireless deployments across regional and metropolitan Tasmania.

While the technology is becoming more reliable and cheaper to deploy, the real benefits will be in how to capture the knowledge gained from the trial for the Tasmanian community. There will be potential opportunities for involvement, interaction and innovation using a technology that’s rapidly becoming identified  as one of the defining characteristics of emerging intelligent and innovative cities worldwide.

An additional outcome would be an understanding of the content and services being sought by the increasingly tech savvy Tasmanian  consumers and visitors alike.

The TECC is  liaising with the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts to conduct the project. A series of Stakeholder meetings with traders and tourist operators from the waterfront precinct regarding the project have been held during 2009.

The Project was officially launched by Lisa Singh MHA, Member for Denison on 12 December, 2009 in Salamanca Square. The project portal has been launched  under the banner of Wireless Tasmania.

For further information, please contact John McCann CEO on Ph 03 6211 0400 or email mccann@tecc.com.au